A novel indole phenylhydrazone receptor: Synthesis and recognition for acetate anion

A novel receptor based on phenylhydrazone derivative was developed and applied to the binding anion, showing a common preference for acetate (AcO−) ion, and the preference was related to structure matching between the host and the guest. The receptor exhibited a dramatic color change upon the addition of acetate ions so that we could finish anion recognition by naked eye without resorting to any spectroscopic instruments. The evaluation of the receptor interaction with anions was performed by UV–vis titration experiments with a variety of structurally different anions in DMSO, and the anion binding pattern of the chemosensor was hydrogen bond interactions.